Activities at July 29 and August Wednesday
Strategy Lunches chaired by Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress
Foundation, House Majority Whip Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) and Rep.
Ernest Istook (R-OK), and sponsored by Coalitions for America
(202/546-3003).

Scandals Discussed

House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX), Paul Weyrich and Tom
Jipping of the Free Congress Foundation, Morton Blackwell of the
Leadership Institute and Amy Ridenour of The National Center for
Public Policy Research expressed concern that the President would
veto appropriations bills consistent with last year's budget agreement
to create a diversion from scandals. Paul Weyrich also reviewed
rumored threats that Bill Clinton would use an "Ellen Romesh
strategy." Weyrich reminded participants that during the
Kennedy Administration, information surfaced that Kennedy had
had an affair with an East German spy, Ellen Romesh. Senators
Everett Dirksen and Mike Mansfield scheduled hearings into possible
security breaches, but FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover told them
Attorney General Robert Kennedy had files on Congressmen and would
release them if hearings occurred. The hearings were cancelled.
Weyrich said "I put nothing past [the Clinton Administration],"
but urged Congressmen to ignore this threat and simply do what
they believe is right. Contact Rep. DeLay via Autumn Hanna at
202/225-0197, Paul Weyrich and Tom Jipping at 202/546-3000, Morton
Blackwell at 703/247-2000, Amy Ridenour at 202/543-4110.

Congress Considers Ban on Single-Sex Training in
the Military

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) discussed a provision of
the 1999 National Defense Authorization Act (HR 3616) that would
end single-sex military training. President Clinton instituted
mixed-gender training over the objections of military leaders
who complained that this would harm morale, training and readiness.
This is verified, said Bartlett, by the mounting evidence "detailing
the demoralizing and chilling effect of sex-related scandals at
basic training facilities across the country... Men and women
are different and worshiping at the altar of political correctness
will not change this fact." In a bipartisan vote, the House
National Security Committee rejected an amendment 30-23 that would
have stripped the provision separating the sexes during training.
The full House approved HR 3616, which is currently in the conference
committee reconciling differences in the 1999 defense authorization.
The single-sex basic training provision could not be inserted
into the Senate defense bill because of the objections of Senator
Olympia Snowe (R-ME). Bartlett said that it was critical that
House conferees insist upon keeping the single-sex provision in
the final bill. To that end, a bipartisan letter signed by 72
male and female House members was sent to conferees July 21 asking
that they keep the single-sex language in the Conference Report.
President Clinton has threatened to veto the defense bill if the
provision is included. Bartlett noted that the signatories to
the letter include the top four members of the Republican leadership
and all but two full Committee Chairmen. The House-Senate conferees
are Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC), Senator Carl Levin (D-MI),
Rep. Floyd Spence (R-SC) and Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO). Contact
Jim Backlin at 202/225-2721. For additional information on mixed-gender
training, visit http://www.cmrlink.org.

Fund Established for Capitol Policemen Killed in
the Line of Duty

House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX) discussed the recent killings
of two U.S. Capitol Police Officers, shot on duty protecting the
Capitol. DeLay expressed strong sympathy for the families of the
officers, and reminded participants that "We're trying to
raise enough money... for a trust fund... so the widows and families
are kept whole at at least the salaries they have lost."
He encouraged participants who are willing and able to send contributions
for the families to the Capitol Police memorial Fund, 119 D Street
N.E., U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510. Contact Rep. DeLay via
Autumn Hanna at 202/225-0197.

Kosova Partly Our Fault

Former Congressman Joe DioGuardi (R-NY) and Bashkim Brahmani,
representing the Albanian-American Civic League, discussed atrocities
by Slobodan Milosevic and his forces in Kosova and the Balkans
and U.S. culpability in the atrocities. DioGuardi explained that
U.N. Ambassador-Nominee Holbrook took a "policy bribe"
from Milosevic, which has resulted in the current Kosova situation.
"There is blood on the hands of the State Department; Mr.
Holbrook," said DioGuardi, who also said that Secretary of
State Albright has been "muzzled by Sandy Berger... there's
no leadership at the top." Contact Joe DioGuardi at 914/762-5530.

Noted Author Accuses Democratic Party of Practicing
Socialism

Balint Vazsonyi, the author of America's 30 Years War: Who
Is Winning?, addressed participants on the Democratic Party's
abandonment of America's founding principles. Vazsonyi notes that
there are four founding principles that have made America great:
1) commitment to the rule of law; 2) individual rights; 3) respect
for private property; 4) common American identity. In the 1960s,
Vazsonyi said, the Democratic Party abandoned these four crucial
principles for the principles of European socialism. As a result,
he said, much of the agenda of the Democratic Party is no different
than the socialist parties of Europe. Vazsonyi says the Democratic
Party's socialist philosophy replaces the Rule of Law with vaguely-defined
social justice; group rights over individual rights; environmental
and other regulatory policies over property rights; and a divisive
multiculturalism over a common American identity. Vazsonyi urged
Republicans to not shy away from using the socialist label out
of fear being derided by the Left. Vazsonyi said, "conservatives
are not losing the war of ideas but the war of words." Contact
Balint Vazsonyi at 202/337-4687 or [email protected]
(http://www.founding.org).

Congressman Announces Legislation to Curb Executive
Orders

Congressman Jack Metcalf (R-WA) said he is proposing a bill
to limit President Clinton's excessive use of Executive Orders
to skirt congressional opposition. One provision would prohibit
the President from using an Executive Order if it clearly violates
the Constitution. Contact Rep. Metcalf at 202/225-2605.

Many Republicans Fund Group Working Against Republicans

Ken Boehm of the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) addressed
participants on the ongoing misuse of taxpayer dollars by the
Legal Services Corporation. Boehm noted that NLPC has compiled
more than 300 examples of cases where legal services attorneys
violate their ostensible mission of helping the poor by filing
lawsuits that advance a liberal agenda. Despite this evidence,
a coalition of pro-LSC Republicans ardently and successfully opposes
cuts in funding. Boehm said, "Every organization and group
in the Republican coalition has been hurt in one form or another
by LSC-funded litigation." To maintain pressure for spending
reductions, Boehm announced that NLPC is compiling a database
of 151,000 people who have been sued by LSC grantees. "That's
151,000 fresh allies in the ongoing campaign to end this wasteful
program," said Boehm. Contact Ken Boehm at 703/847-3088 or
[email protected] (http://www.nlpc.org).

Poll: Missile Defense Supported

Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy announced the
finding of a new poll conducted by Kellyanne Fitzpatrick that
shows the American public overwhelmingly supports a missile defense
system. The poll asked respondents: "If America is spending
$10 billion a year in Bosnia, would you support spending half
of that amount on a missile defense system to protect the U.S.?"
Gaffney said 80% support spending money on missile defense. Contact
Frank Gaffney at 202/466-0515 (http://www.security-policy.org/).

Ending Marriage Penalty Fails

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) reported that legislation to repeal
the marriage penalty tax, sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS),
had to be withdrawn due to Democratic opposition. Contact Gary
Hoitsma at 202/224-4721. *

Scoop is published by The National Center for Public
Policy Research to provide information about the activities of
the conservative movement. Coverage of a meeting or statement
in Scoop does not imply endorsement by The National Center for
Public Policy Research. Copyright 1998 The National Center for
Public Policy Research. Reprints of articles in Scoop permitted
provided source is credited. ###